The Department of Tourism’s Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP) – established in 2017 to partially cover retrofitting tourism facilities with energy and water efficiency equipment – has approved 216 applications at a total grant value of over R140 million.
Provincial distribution of the GTIP approvals is dominated by the Eastern Cape (53), Western Cape (48) and Gauteng (34) followed by Limpopo (22), KwaZulu-Natal (20), North West (15), Mpumalanga (12), Northern Cape (eight) and Free State (four).
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has inspected solar PV installations at two Gauteng-based GTIP beneficiaries: the Timosha and The View guest houses.
Three-star, 100% black woman-owned Timosha qualified for 90% (R730 000) grant funding to install energy and water-saving interventions in February 2024. A savings verification will be conducted to determine the impact of the installations over time.
The View, also 100% black woman-owned, qualified for 86% (R626 000) of the cost to install similar interventions.
De Lille found the programme assisted South African tourism businesses in their climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts and measures addressing water and electricity disruptions.
“I encourage all tourism businesses to take up this amazing opportunity by applying for funding from the incentive programme. This is a key example of government creating an enabling environment for businesses to grow and thrive.”
GTIP was developed in collaboration with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in response to escalating electricity prices coupled with energy supply challenges, load shedding and general water scarcity, which pose a significant risk to the future growth and sustainability of the tourism sector.
The Department of Tourism opened 10 application windows between November 2017 and September 2024. The current application window will remain open until February 28, 2025.
Phase 1 of the application process involves a resource efficiency audit (the cost is fully covered by the programme). In Phase 2, applicants can apply for support (50-90% grant funding up to R1 million) to cover the cost of installing relevant technologies and equipment recommended by the audit.
The IDC, as the Department of Tourism’s implementation partner, receives all GTIP applications and administers the programme.
Efficiency solutions supported by the programme include:
- Renewable energy generation (such as solar and wind systems)
- Energy-efficient equipment and lighting (such as LEDs, solar water heaters, gas stoves and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems)
- Water-efficient appliances and systems
- Water sourcing (such as rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems)
Details are available on the Department of Tourism (www.tourism.gov.za) and IDC (www.idc.co.za) websites.
